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    Chinese Grammar

    Using the classifier 年 (nián) for years

    Numbers & Quantity
    Time Expressions

    Structure

    Number + 年

    Explanation

    The classifier 年 (nián) is used when counting years or referring to a specific year in time expressions. It appears in phrases like 一年 (one year) and 三年 (three years), and also combines with 中 to form 一年中 (within a year/throughout the year).

    Examples

    • 我在这个城市已经住了三年了。

      wǒ zài zhège chéngshì yǐjīng zhù le sān nián le.

      I've already lived in this city for three years.

    • 新的一年又开始了，你有什么计划？

      xīn de yì nián yòu kāishǐ le, nǐ yǒu shénme jìhuà?

      A new year has begun again; what plans do you have?

    • 她花了两年时间学会了日语。

      tā huā le liǎng nián shíjiān xuéhuì le Rìyǔ.

      She spent two years learning Japanese.

    Similar Grammar

    Using the classifier 年 (nián) for years | Chinese Grammar